Safety sidewall lawn mower

ABSTRACT

DISCLOSED HEREIN IS A ROTARY MOWER WITH SAFETY SIDEWALLS WHICH DEPEND FROM A BLADE HOUSING SECTION, WHICH ARE AT A CONSTANT CLEARANCE FROM THE GROUND AND WHICH AFFORD PROTECTION FROM EJECTION OF MISSILES FROM BENEATH THE MOWER. THE SIDEWALLS HAVE WHEEL MEANS FOR TRANSPORTING THE MOWER ALONG THE GROUND. THE ENGINE AND BLADE ARE SUPPORTED ON A HOUSING SECTION WHICH IS LOCATED   BETWEEN THE SIDEWALLS AND IS VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE RELATIVE TO THE SIDEWALLS TO VARY THE HEIGHT OF GRASS CUT. A ROLLER BETWEEN THE REAR WHEELS PREVENTS REARWARD EJECTION OF MISSILES.

Oct. 12, 1971 F. T. IRGENS 3,,i L684 SAFETY SIDEWALL LAWN MOWER OriginalFiled Jan. 13, 1967 Patented Oct. 12, 1971 ABSlCT OF THE DISCLOSUREDisclosed herein is a rotary mower with safety sidewalls which dependfrom a blade housing section, which are at a constant clearance from theground and which afford protection from ejection of missiles frombeneath the mower. The sidewalls have wheel means for transporting themower along the ground. The engine and blade are supported on a housingsection which is located between the sidewalls and is verticallyadjustable relative to the sidewalls to vary the height of grass cut. Aroller between the rear wheels prevents rearward ejection of missiles.

This application is a streamlined continuation of earlier filedapplication, Ser. No. 609,076, filed Jan. 13, 1967, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Various hazards are present in the operation ofconventional rotary lawn mowers caused by impact of the cutting bladewith objects such as stones or pebbles which can be impelled at highvelocity from beneath the blade housing, endangering the operator andbystanders. Normally, the plane or track of the cutting blade is nearthe lower edge of the blade housing. In conventional mowers, theclearance between the lower edge of the housing and the ground normallyvaries between one and three inches as the mower is adjusted fordifferent depths of cut, making it possible for objects to be thrown outor ejected from under the housing When the blade housing is adjusted fora short cut, the clearance between the housing and the ground is gen'erally close enough to prevent missile escape. However, when the bladehousing is raised to change the height of cut, the protection affordedby the housing decreases and accordingly the hazard to the operator andbystanders increases.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION In accordance with the present invention additionalprotection is provided by side means on the mower which maintainconstant clearance above the ground inde pendent of the height of cut.This protection is afforded by a mower construction utilizing a. bladehousing having two sections. One housing section has depending sidewalls carrying front and rear wheels for travel along the ground andremains at a fixed height with respect to the ground. A second bladehousing section movable between the side walls supports the engine andassociated cutting blade. Forward ejection of missiles is minimized byan arcuate skirt which depends from the second housing section and whichhas a lower edge near the plane of the cutting blade. Verticaladjustment of the cutting blade to vary the height of grass cut isafforded by adjustably securing the second blade housing to the firstblade housing. In its broadest sense, the invention encompasses sidemeans with a deck adjustably mounted within the side means forsupporting the engine.

Other safety features of the present invention include a freely rotatingroller which is located between the rear wheels and which preventsrearward escape of missiles.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following drawings and accompanying description.

DRAWING S FIG. 1 is a partially broken away side elevational view of arotary mower embodying various of the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the lawn mower of FIG. 1 with theblade and engine lowered for a short cut;

FIG. 3 is a partially broken away plan view of the mower shown in FIG.1; and

FIG 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the mower shown in FIG.1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the drawings there is illustrated a rotary mowerwhich is generally designated 10, and which has handle 13 for guidingmower movement.

In accordance with the invention, protection from missile ejectioncaused by impact with the cutting blade is afforded by a constructionutilizing first and second respective blade housing sections 12 and 14.The first housing section 12 has depending side walls 15 and 16- whichmaintain a constant clearance over the ground along the sides of themower 10. The second housing section 14 is movable between the sidewalls 15 and 16 and supports a conventional engine 17 with a crankshaftor output shaft 18 carrying a cutting blade 19.

The first blade housing section 12- has a deck 20 integral withdepending side walls 15 and 16. An alternate construction utilizesseparate plates as side walls bolted or otherwise secured to the deck.

The side walls 15 and 16 have upper edges 24 and lower arcuate edgeportions 2 8 and 30 adjacent the side wall ends to facilitate passage ofthe side walls over ground obstructions.

The mover 10 is supported for travel in adjacent relation to the ground31 by wheels 32 rotatably mounted to the sidewalls 15 and 16 on rearaxles 33 and front axles 35.

Further protection from flying objects is provided at the rear of themower 10 by a drum or roller 40 carried by the rear axles 33 betweenwheels 32. The roller 40 can be barrel-shaped with a larger diameter atthe center tapering to a smaller diameter at the ends thus providing apivot for turning the mover 10. In the disclosed construction, the deck20 has an arcuate portion 41 which partially encloses the roller 40,thereby blocking rearward exit of missiles. If desired, the deck 20 canextend to the roller 40 to provide adequate protection without employingthe portion 41. Roller 40 should have sufficient clearance over theground 31 to prevent undue drag on the mower 10. Removal of grassclipping and debris from roller 40 is afforded by a longitudinal bladeor rubber flap which frictionally engages roller 40 and is pivotallyconnected at 43 to arcuate portion 41.

Protection at the front of mower 10 is afforded by an arcuate front endportion 44 which is integral with the second housing section 14 andwhich extends downwardly to the blade track.

Housing section 14 has a generally fiat deck portion 46 to support anyconventional engine 17. A downturned flange 48 at the rear of deck 46 isin abutting engagement with an upturned flange 50 of the first housingsection 12, thereby sealing the housing cavity 57 to prevent missileescape upwardly, regardless of the vertical adjustment of the housingsection 14 with respect to first housing section 12.

Housing section 14 is also provided inwardly of portion 44 with aforwardly located, transversely extending, de-

pending arcuate skirt 49 which assists in stopping forward ejection ofmissiles and which extends downwardly near the plane or track of thecutting blade 19. Accordingly, the lower edge 57 of the skirt ismaintained in a constant relationship to the plane or track of thecutting blade irrespective of vertical height adjustment of blade 19 tovary the height of cut.

The grass clippings can be disbursed against the roller 40 oraccumulated and collected using a top discharge port such as thatdisclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,118,267, which port is not illustrated.

Means are provided for vertically adjustably securing the housingsection 14 to the housing section 12 to afford selective heightadjustment of the cutting blade. In the disclosed construction, suchmeans comprises a series of vertically aligned apertures 52in both siderails 15 and 16.

Two embossments 54 which extend horizontally from the housing section 14on opposite sides are provided with threaded apertures 55 to receivebolts 56 extending through apertures 52. To change the height of theblade 19 for the desired height of cut, the housing section 14 ismanually raised and bolts 56 are extended through the appropriateapertures 52. This arrangement is one of many which could be used toafford height adjustment of the cutting blade.

Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A rotary lawn mower including a first blade housing section havingdepending sidewalls, front and rear wheel means supporting said firstblade housing section for travel along the ground with the bottom ofsaid sidewalls in adjacent relation to the ground, a second bladehousing section having a forwardly located depending arcuate skirt witha lower edge, an engine mounted on said second blade housing section andhaving an output shaft carrying a cutter blade located in a plane nearsaid lower edge, and means vertically adjustably securing said secondhousing section to said first housing section for providing selectiveheight adjustment of said cutter blade, whereby said edge is maintainedin constant relationship with said cutting blade irrespective ofvertical height of the blade relative to the ground.

2. A rotary lawn mower including a first blade housing section havingdepending side walls, front and rear wheel means supporting said firstblade housing section for travel along the ground with the bottom ofsaid side walls in adjacent relation to the ground, a second bladehousing section having a forwardly located downwardly extending arcuateportion, an engine mounted on said second blade housing section andhaving an output shaft carrying a cutter blade, and means verticallyadjustably securing said second housing section to said first housingsection for providing selective height adjustment of said cutter blade.

3. A rotary lawn mower including a first blade housing section havingdepending side walls, a vertically upturned flange extendingtransversely of the direction of intended travel, front and rear wheelmeans supporting said first blade housing section for travel along theground with the bottom of said side walls in adjacent relation to theground, a second blade housing section having a vertically downturnedflange extending transversely of the direction of intended travel and inabutting engagement with said upturned flange, an engine mounted on saidsecond blade housing section and having an output shaft carrying acutter blade, and means vertically adjustably securing said secondhousing section to said first housing section for providing selectiveheight adjustment of said cutter blade.

4. A rotary lawn mower including a pair of spaced side walls, front andrear wheel means supporting said sidewalls for travel along the groundwith the bottom of said sidewalls in adjacent relation to the ground, ablade housing supporting an engine having an output shaft carrying acutting blade, said blade housing having a forwardly located,transversely extending, depending arcuate skirt with a lower edge nearthe plane of said cutting blade, and means on said side walls adjustablyvertically securing said housing to said sidewalls for providingselective height adjustment of said cutting blade.

I 5. A rotary lawn mower including a first housing section havingdepending side walls, front and rear wheel means supporting said firsthousing section for travel along the ground with the bottom of said sidewalls in adjacent relation to the ground, a second housing section, anengine mounted on said second housing section and having an output shaftcarrying a cutter blade, and means vertically adjustably securing saidsecond housing section to said first housing section for providingselective height adjustment of said cutter blade and for preventinglocation of said cutter blade below the bottom of said side walls.

6. A rotary lawn mower including a first housing having depending sidewalls, front and rear wheel means supporting said first housing fortravel along the ground with the bottom of said side walls in adjacentrelation to the ground, a second housing having an upper wall and askirt depending from said upper wall and having a lower edge, an enginemounted on said upper wall and having an output shaft carrying a cutterblade rotatable in a plane spaced from said upper wall at approximatelythe same distance as said lower edge, and means vertically adjustablysecuring said second housing to said first housing with said skirtextending across the path of intended travel of said mower forwardly ofsaid cutter blade.

7. A rotary lawn mower including a first housing section having sidewalls and a top wall extending between said side walls, front and rearwheel means supporting said first housing section for travel along theground with the bottom of said side walls in adjacent relation to theground, a second housing section having a vertically extendingtransverse front wall and an upper wall extending from said front wallbetween said side walls and adjacent to said top wall to provide acontinuous upper deck extending from said front and side walls, anengine mounted on said upper wall and having an output shaft carrying acutter blade located beneath said top and upper walls, and meansvertically adjustably connecting said second housing section to saidfirst housing section for providing selective height adjustment of saidcutter blade while maintaining the continuity of said upper deck.

8. A rotary lawn mower including a first housing having depending sidewalls, front and rear wheel means supporting said first housing fortravel along the ground with the bottom of said side walls in adjacentrelation to the ground, a second housing having an upper wall and askirt depending from said upper wall and having a lower edge, an enginemounted on said upper wall and having an output shaft carrying a cutterblade rotatable in a plane spaced from said upper wall at approximatelythe same distance as said lower edge, and means vertically adjustablysecuring said second housing to said first housing with said skirtextending across the path of intended travel of said mower forwardly ofsaid cutter blade for providing selective height adjustment of saidcutter blade and for preventing location of said cutter blade below thebottom of said side walls.

9. A rotary lawn mower including a first housing section having sidewalls, front and rear wheel means supporting said first housing sectionfor travel along the ground with the bottom of said side walls inadjacent relation to the ground, a second housing section having avertically extending transverse front wall and an upper wall extendingfrom said front wall between said side walls to provide a continuousupper deck extending from said front and side walls, an engine mountedon said upper wall and having an output shaft carrying a cutter bladelocated beneath said upper wall, and means vertically adjustablyconnecting said second housing section to said first housing section forproviding selective height adjustment of said cutter blade.

110'. A rotary lawn mower in accordance with claim 9 wherein said meansvertically adjustably connecting said second housing section to saidfirst housing section also includes means for preventing location ofsaid cutter blade below the bottom of said side walls.

11. A rotary lawn mower in accordance with claim 9 wherein said secondhousing section front wall has a lower edge and wherein said cutterblade is rotatable in a plane spaced from said upper wall atapproximately the same distance as the spacing of said lower edge fromsaid upper wall.

112. A rotary lawn mower in accordance with claim 9 wherein said secondhousing section front wall has a lower edge and wherein said cutterblade is rotatable in a plane spaced from said upper wall atapproximately the same distance as the spacing of said lower edge fromsaid upper wall, and said means vertically adjustably connecting saidsecond housing section to said first housing section also includes meansfor preventing location of said cutter blade below the bottom of saidside walls.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Smith. Phelps. Sharp. Miller.Shippey. Mitchell. Davis et al. Bright. Knarzer. Schneider.

US. Cl. X.R.

i 2g? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3 6] 1 684 Dated Q t b 12 191] Inventor(s) Finn T, Irgens It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Page 2, line 7 after "above", insert and in adjacent relation to Page 2,lines 20 delete "In its...engine.";

through 23 Page 2, line 21 insert the following: Also in accordance withthe invention, the means vertically adj ustably securing the one housingsection to the other housing section also prevents location of thecutting blade below the side walls Page 5 line 27 insert the followingnew paragraph:

--- As shown in the drawings, the means vertically adj ustably securingthe housing 14 to the housing section 12 to provide for selective heightadjustment of the cuttint blade also serves for preventing location ofthe cutter blade below the bottom of the side walls In this regard, asshown in Figure 2, even with the blade lowered for a short cut,-

the blade is still located above the lower edge of the side walls.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of April 1972.

(SEAL) Attcst:

EDWARD T-I.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Atte sting OfficerCommissioner of Patents

